Extensible case.



PATENTED JUNE so, 1908.

E. G. SGHRIEFBR.

EXTENSIBLE CASE. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. a. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 am d W 2 m MM Kfig 0m 0 9 1 0 3 E N U J D E T N E T A P Kw HA mm RL mW8 w m E APPLIOATION FILED NIB. 3, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EDWARD o. SOHRIEFER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

EXTENSIBLE CASE.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. SOHRIE- FER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing.

at Cincinnati, in the county of. Hamilton and 5 State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Cases, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide an extensible case comrising a case-section or sections having a bac and sides but without toor bottom, a top unit and a bottom unit, or forming a case in which ashelf or shelves may be assed up and down and secured at desirab epoints for forming a compartment either within a case-section oroverlapping case-sections, with a door or doors swinging in uprightposition, and my invention consists in providing a case-section of thecharacter described with a door swin ing in upright positions; further,in providing means for connecting the severa doors of the severalsections or units for forming a united door; further, in providing a topunit, or a bottom unit, or both, for a case of the character described,with a swinging leaf or door; further, in providing means for connectingsaid ,door or leaf with the united door of the case-section or sections,further, in novel means for hanging the shelves for o affording fullinside clearance for the case and compartments in the case; further, innovel means for hanging the doors for affording full clearance at thefront to the inside of-the case; and further, in the parts and in 5 theconstruction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter scribedand claimed. I do not independently herein claim the adjustable shelfsupport herein shown and more fully dedescribed, having filed aplications on said subject-matters, being erial Nos. 105388 and" 105389filed April 30, 1902, to which reference is respectfully made. I havealso, in another application, Serial No. 92460,

shown described and claimed the case-section or unit comprising a backand sides without top or bottom, to whichapplication reference isrespectfully made, and have also shown, described and claimed suchcase-section in connectionwith other matter. in other applicationsfiled: by me February 3, 1902, Serial Nos. 92462 and' 92463, to whichreference is also respectfully made.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improveddevice. ig. 2 is a similar view, showing a case sec- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed. February 3, 1902. Serial No. 92,461.

Patented June so, 1908.

2 tion, the to unit, and the bottom unit in separated re ation. Fig. 3is a plan view of a detail, showing the shelf support, means formounting the door, and the connecting means between sections. Fig. 4 isa detail in vertical section, takenon a line corresponding to the line03-00 of Fig. 3, showing the shelf support and .means for holding thesides of case-sections against sidewise displacement. Fig. 5is'a detailin perspective of the connecting means between sections. Fig. 6 is. adetail in side elevation showing the connecting means between doors.Fig.

7 is a cross-section of the same in separated relation taken on the liney'y of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail in cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 6showing the retaining means for the same.

1 represents a case-section; 2' a top unit, and 3 a bottom unit. Thecase-section consists of two sides 4 5, and a back 6, all preferablyclose, and connected by suitable means. The doors 7 8 are supported onthe case section and swing in vertical position on hinges 9. The hingesare preferably located to the outside of the inner-face 10 of theside ofthe case-section for a distance corresponding to the thickness of thedoor frame between said inner'face and pivot of the bin e, so that whenthe door is swung open at rig t angles to the case its inner face -11will be in substantially the vertical plane of extension of the innerface 10 of the case-section for giving the inside of the case-sectionfull clearance at its front for removal of articles therein. Foraccomplishing this object conveniently, I provide the front of the sidesof the sections with posts 12, having rabbets 13 for receiving the outeredge of the door.

In order to further provide clearance on the. inside of the case-sectionfor articles, I also provide the sides with recesses 15 in which Isecure vertical shelf-strips 16.

17 represents a shelf support, provided at its upper end with a hook 18for taking into a )ertures 20 in the shelf-strips 16. The

s elves 14 or similar article support' device may be recessed, as shownat 21 for mittin the ledge 22 of the shelf sup ort. The shel strips mayalso be channele as shown at 23,

for strength and for receiving the shank 24 of the shelf support. Screws.25 secure the shelf-strips to the sectionqsides. One of the shelf su)ports ma be provided for each corner of the shelf fbr supportin theshelf in horizontal position at desirable eight. The.

shelf-strips and supports are preferably of metal. By means of thisimproved construction full clearance is given the insideof the case, andfull clearance is also iven compart ments between shelves, the self-strips and supports being located within the lanes of extension ofthe shelves and vertical walls of the case-sections.

ed e having a groove 27, or vice versa, for" I have shown the upper edgeofv the casesection provided with a tongue 26, its lower 'ai ing inseating the cases upon each other,

' of the parts.

"tween the shelf-strips and the s1 es of the case, thereby'i-removingthem from view when the case is set up. For readily findingf theconnecting pieces when placing a unit, I.provide the grooves 31 32 withfiarin openings 33 34. One of the pieces is re erably placed at thefront at each side 0 the case lapping two units placed one aboveanother. 1 The object of the connecting pieces is to hold the sides of,the case-sections T e channel 28 in the connecting piece is for thepurpose of strength and to receive the hook 18 when inserted intoopenings 0 pcsite the connecting-piece. The sides o the A case-sectionare also provided with grooves 29 to rear of the shelf-stri s forreceiving said hooks, the channels 28 eingpractically a continuation ofthe grooves 29.

If case-sections are placed one upon another, I prefer to connect-thedoors of the several sections for forming a uniteddoor. The doors mayalso be provided with tongues 35 and rooves 36 similar to thecase-secmeans for connectingthe doors, I have shown'wedge pieces 37 38connected respectively to the respective doors to be connected, with awedge-clamp 39 adapted to take about the'two wedge pieces and to beforced upon the same for firmly uniting the doors, a s ring 40 beingadapted to take 7 against ri g'es 4:1 for preventing displacement of theclamp. The wedges and wedgepieces may besunk into depressions 42. Anysuitable number of doors may be thus connected for forming a uniteddoor. It is y of course obvious that other means for connecting'may beemployed.

If thedoors are provided with tongue and oove, as stated, it isadvisableto provide a oor or leaf 51 for the top unit adapted to be 7connected with the door of the section immeas by means similar to theagxainst sidewise displacement or bulging.-

sections. The leaf 51 maybe hinged to the top unitby a hinge 9. Thebottom unit may also be provided .with a door or leaf 52 connected tothe bottom unit bya hin e 9 and to the door of the section immediate yabove by aconnection similar'to the connection for connecting the doorsbetween sections. In the form shown, the lower edge of the leaf or strip51 will be provided with a groove for receiving the tongue of the doorimmediately below and the upper edge of the leaf or strip 52 would beprovided with a tongue for taking into the roove of the door of thesection above, and t eupper edge of the leaf 51 and 'lower' edge of theleaf 52 would be square of the leaves for forming a with the sidescomplete finish when the case is closed. dust strip doors and leaves atone side of the case for overlapping the doors and leaves at the otherside of the case.

53 may be provided for each of the The top unit may have depending sides54' 55 and a dependin back 56 corres onding to the height of the eaves51, and t e bottom unit may have upwardly extending sides 57 res ondingto the height of the leaves 52.

claim a 1. In an extensible case system, the combination ofcase-sections, each constructed as a unit and comprising a back andsides and being open at top'and bottom and a said case-section hinged tosaid case-section and swinging in upright position, a shelf arranged tobe passed up and down'entirely through said case-section,shelf-supporting means supporting the shelf in said case-sectionatvarious heights, said door-section having at top and bottom thereof.means for connecting superposed doorsections when said case-sectionsare arranged one on top of the other, thereby forming a unitary doorthroughout the height ofall of said case-sections, each of saidcase-sections With its door, shelf and means. adjustably and adjustable58 and an upwardly extending back 59 cor- I door-section ofsubstantially the height of supporting the shelf constructed and ar- 1ranged to be moved as an entirety and interchanged at various'points inheight in thecombined case.

. 2. In angextensible case, the combination.

of case-sections,-each comprising a back and sides having open endedtopand bottom with a door-section for each case-section of substantiallytheheight of said case-section hinged thereto on a substantially vertic 1axis, a shelf, means within said case-sections for adjustably supportingsaid shelf, and means at top and bottom .of the respective door-sectionsconnectlng the door-sections for forming a'united door of substantiallythe combined height of saidcase-sections, said case-sections with theirdoor-sections and connecting means at top and bottom of saiddoor-sections arranged for interchangeabil I ity to various elevationsin a combined case, with said connecting means-on superposeddoor-sections mating for connection irrespective of elevation of theseveral casesections. a i

3. In an extensible case, the combination 'of a case-section comprisinga back and sides and being open-ended at top and bottom a door for thecase-section swinging on a substantiallyv'ertical axis, a top unit,aleaf for the top unit in the horizontal plane of the top 1 1I11l7,a11dmeans for connecting the door of a section and the leaf for forming aunited door swinging on a substantially vertical axis. v v 4. Inanextensible case, the combination of a case-section, comprising'a backand sides and being'open-ended at to and bottom, with a door swingingona su stantially vertical axis, a bottom unit, a leaf for the bottomunit in'the horizontal plane of the bot tom unit, and means forconnecting the door .of a section with the leaf for forming a uniteddoor swinging on a substantially vertical axis. i p p 5. In anextensible case, the combination of a casesect ion comprising a back andsides and having open top and bottom, with a door for the sectionswinging, on a-substantially vertical axis a top unit, a leaf therefor lin the horizontal plane thereof, a bottom unit,

a leaf therefor-in the horizontal plane there of, and means forconnecting a door of a section with the leaffor the top unit and meansfor connecting the door of a section with the leaf for the bottom unitfor forming a. united door swinging on a substantially vertical axis.

6. In an extensible case, the combination with a top-section anda'base-section, of casesections each constructed ,as'a unit and c omprising aback "and two sides and being open at top and bottom','adoor-section for each case-sectionv of substantially the height of saidcase-section swinging on a substantially vertical axis thereon,connecting means at top and bottom of the res ective door-sections, saidcase-sections w th their several door-sections and, connecting means forthe latter arranged to be placed interchangeably one on top ofanotherbetween the top-section and-base-section forforminga case having aninterior constructedand arranged for permitting a shelf to be passed'upand'down 55 throughout said 'interior, said connecting; means betweendoor-sections arranged for connecting superposed doors irrespective ofrelative superposed relation of the several door-seetions for forming aunitary door, with means in the several case-sections for supporting andpermitting adjustment of a shelf to various heights in said several casesections, and ashelf supported by the latter means. a v I 6.; 7 In anextensible case system, the conibination, with a top unit and a bottomunit, .of case-sections, said case-sections 0 en at top and bottom, adoor-section of su stantially the height of the case-section hinged toeach case-section and swinging in upright position, said case-sectionsWltll their respective dolor-sections hingedv thereon arranged to beinterchangeably placed as units one above theother between saidtop unitand said bottom unit for forminga case having continuous interiorthroughout which a shelf may be passed up and down, means connectingsuperposed door-sections operating at various interchanged elevatlons ofsaid case-sections for forming a unitary door giving-continuous, accessthroughout the height of said continuousinterior by the swinging of saidunitary door as an entirety, each of said door-sections forming acomplete door when only the one case-section to which it is hinged isplaced between the to unit and bottom unit for forming a case, an inconnection with otherdoor-sections of othercase-sections, formingsaidunitary door I when more case-sections are placed between 90 the top.unit and bottom unit for forming a case. a

8. In an extensible case s stem, the combination with a top unit an abottom unit, of case-sections each comprising a back and sides and beingopen at top and bottom, a pair of door-sections hinged to eachcasesection and swinging in upright positions, said door-sections beingsubstantially the hei ht of said case-section, said case-section 10dwit, its door-sections constructed as a unit, forming a case-unit, saidcase-units arranged to be interchangeabl placed at various elevationsbetween said top unit and said bottom-unit for forming a case withcontinuous interior throu hout which. a shelf may be assed, a shel meanswithin the case-units or adjustably su porting said shelf, andconnecting means between door-sections arran ed in' similarverticalplane connecting sai door-sections in various selectiveelevations at which'said case-units are placed betv,een saidtop unit andbottom unit. J 9. In an extensible case,- the combination ofcase-sections each. comprising a back and sides but having open top andbottom, shelf- 4 strips extending 'u and down through each case section,a she f, means connected with said shelf-strips for supporting saidshelf, and a connecting iece between the shelf-strips and the side 0 thesections lap in said'sides 'for holding said sides agains si ewisedisplacement or bulgin I 10. In an extensilfie case, the combination ofcase sections each comprisin a back and. 125 sides, having open top andottom, and formed with grooves extending up and down in said sections,shelf-strips located in said grooves, a shelf, means connected with saidshelf-strips for supportingsaid. shelf, and

for the door located in a vertical'plane situate outside the verticallane of extension of the inside wall of said side of the case-section adistance correspondingsubstantially to the thickness of the door-framebetweensaid pivot and inside wall, for afiording front clearance for thecase-section.

- case section a distance corresponding sub-- 12. In an extensible case,the combination of case sections each comprising a backand sides butbein open ended at top and bottom, a door ingd to each section andswinging, in substantially vertical positions with the pivot for thedoors located-in a ver-' tical plane outside of the vertical lane ofextension of theinside wall of the si e of the 1 stantially to thethickness of the door-frame between said vpivot and inside wall, withmeans for uniting said doors forforming a united door swinging insubstantially the same vertical positions.

13. In an, extensi tion of a case-section comprising aback and sides andhaving open-ended top and bottom, a top unit and a bottom-unit,with-shelfstrip sections countersunk into the sides of the case-sectionand having 0 enings therein, a shelf having recesses, she f-supportstaking into the openings and into said recesses,

forming acase with unobstructed interior and having supporting meansfor'the shelf located substantially 'within the planes of extension ofthe sides of the case-sections and permitting the shelf to be placed atdesirable points up and down throughout the case. r

14. In an extensible case, the combination-with a top unit and a-bottomunit, of.

case-sections, a pair of door-sections hinged 'to each case-section andbeing of' substane tially the height of the case-section to which it*ishinged, said door-sections swinging in 'uprightpositions,connecting'means at top andbottom of-said several door-sections,

said case-secti'ons with the door-sections thereon in normal position ofuse arranged to be placed as an entirety one above another at variouselevations in said extensible case with said door-sections placed oneabove another taking, one against the other and with said connectingmeans between door-sections mating interchangeably l at variouselevations of said case-sections.

15. In an extensible case, the combine ble case, the combination withatop unit and a bottom unit, of

case-sections, a door-section swinging in upright positions hinged toeach case-section and ofsubstantially the height of said casesection,connecting means between doorsections respectively at top and bottom ofsaid door-sections, said case-sections with their door-sections andconnecting means for the latter constructed as units and arranged to bemoved and interchanged at various points in height in the case with saiddoorsections placed one above another taking one against the other andwith said connecting means between said door-sections registering witheach other in their several interchanged ositions for securing the doorsections toget er as a unitary door.

16. In an extensible case system, the combination with a top unit' and abottom unit, of case-sections having sides, a air of door-" sections ofsubstantially the helght of their case-section hinged to eachcase-section and swinging in upright positions, said case-sect on withits door-sections constructed as a unit, forming a .case-unit, saidcase-units arranged to he interchangeably placed at .various elevationsone above another between said top unit and said bottomunit,

said pairs of door-sections when said caseunlt's are so placed taklngone upon another,

and connectlng means between superposed door-sections arranged insimilar vertical plane connecting saiddoor-sections in various selectiveelevations at which said caseunits-are placed between said top unit andsaid bottom unit, the pivots of the hinges of said door sections beinglocated in vertical plane outside the respective vertical planes ofextension of the mside walls of said re.-

spective sides of said case-sections'a distance correspondingsubstantially to the thickness of the door-frame between said respectivepivots-and inside walls for afiording front clearance for thecase-sections.

17. In an extensible case system, the combination with atop unit and abottom unit, of case-sections having sides, a door-section hinged toeach case-section and swinging i in upright ositions, said door-sectionbeing substantial y the height of the case-section to which it ishinged, said several case-sections with their "respective. door-sectionsarranged to be interchangeably placed atvarious elevations one aboveanother between said topunit and said bottom unit for forming acase, andconnecting means betweendoor-sections arranged in similar vertical planeconnecting said door-sections n various selective elevations at whichsaid case-sections.,,are placed betweenfsaid top unit and said bottomunit, the pivots of the hinges ofsaid door-sections being located in avertical plane situate outside the vertical plane of extension, of theinside wall of said sides of said case-sections a distance correspondingsubstantially to the thickness of the door-frame between said insidewalls for afiording front 0 earance for the case-sections.

18. In an extensible case system, the combination with a top unit and abottom unit, of case-sections having sides, a door-section hinged toeach case-section and swinging in upright positions on ivots located inaplane outside the vertical p ane of the inside wall of said" sides,said door-section being substan tially the height of the case-section towhich it is hinged, said several case-sections with their respectivedoor-sections arranged to be interchangeably placed at variouselevations one above another between said top unit and said bottom unitfor forming a case, and connecting means between door-sections arrangedin similar vertical plane connecting ivots and said door-sections invarious selective elevations at which said case-sections are placedbetween said top unit and said bottom unit, each of said door-sectionsforming a complete door when only the case-section to which it is hingedis placed between the top unit and bottom unit for forming a case, and,in connection with other door-sections of other case-sections, forming aunited door when more case -sections are placed between the top unit andbottom unit for forming a case.

In witness whereof I have signed my name hereto in the witnesses.

EDWARD G. SCHRIEFER. Witnesses: v

ERNEST G. SIMON, HERBERT F. HARDEN.

presence of two subscribing

